Dr. Andy Uba, PDP Chieftain
The announcement of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Anambra South Senatorial District election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) without the correspondingly clear cut name of the candidate that won the election is now brewing tension and despondency in the area.
Two contestants, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Dr. Andy Uba entered the race as candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with unwavering faith in their candidacies.
At the end of elections on Saturday April 9, however, the PDP won in the zone with a total vote of 63, 315 to 43, 789 scored by APGA to come second.
The returning Officer, Prof. Kelechi Okoye, declared the PDP as winner without announcing any of the candidates.
Curiously however, the Returning Officer late Sunday evening after visiting the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) in company of Uba, his elder brother, Senator Ugochukwu Uba and the self acclaimed godfather of Anambra politics, Chief Chris Uba, later emerged to pronounce Uba winner of the election before journalists who had thronged the commission’s office that night.
The R.O’s action appeared to be a departure from his earlier position that none of the combatants would be declared winner but the PDP.
When contacted Tuesday for comments on the motivation behind theu-turn, the Returning Officer, Okoye simply said he had no comments whatsoever.
Also on Tuesday, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu while briefing newsmen in Awka said he remained the authentic candidate of the party who contested the election and expressed surprise that Andy Uba had been declared winner.
He explained, “Before the collation of results in Nnewi from different local government areas on April 9, 2011, I served the Returning Officer an Order of Court showing that I am the PDP candidate for the South Senatorial District who stood for election. He said that he would obey the order of court and declare me winner if the PDP won the election. The order of court is still with him.